Resilient wheel



Feb. 13, 1923.

T. MORINELLI RESILIENT WHEEL www Feb. 13, 1923. 1,445,536

. T. MORINELLI RESLENT WHEEL Filed July v, 1922 4 sheets-sheet 2 Fei). 13, 1923. 1,445,536

T. MGFUNELL;

RESILIENT WHEEL Filed July 6, 1922 V4 sheets-sheet 5 ZN VEA/'TOR Feb. 13, 1923. 1,445,536

T. MQRINELLI RESLLIEN'T WHEEL Patented Feb. 13, i923.

hid

Appliction iired huye, 1922. serian fm1. 573,097.

To allfwwm it may concern:

Be it knowntht I, THOMAS Moiunenni, a subject of the Kingr of Italy (having applied for his sec-ond pa rs as e'citizen of '5 the United States), residing at Philadelphia, in the county'o Philadelphia. and Stateof Pennsylvania, have Vinvented new 'and useful Improvements in a. Resilient 'Wheeh'of whieh` the' following is "u speeifi'tion;

My'invention relates to new anduse'ful im provements in aresilient wheel, und has for its object to provide a, structuxein 'which air containers are interposed between Ythe wheel hub-:md rim to absorbthe ehoks ineident to runningI over obstructions or un evei'iness in a road bed and thereby'eliminailing the neceity of using.pnenmiitic'tires ent formation.

:und the disadvantages erisln'gfrom the use of sneh tires.

Another object of the. invention it'to provide for such u. device an nir container in the form of :iv cylinder with a, piston wor-ki therein seid cylinder and piston ybeing positive in their action and arranged or constructed in such a manner asto reduce to a minimum the likelihood of leakage.

A further object ofiny invention is to pro- Yvide :i unique construction a'nd arrangement of elements for transuilting-mtnry motion vul movement re ative to its hub.

lVith these ends in view, this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth und then specifically designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention nppertains, muy understand how to make and use the seme. l will describe its construct-ion in detail, re-

ferring by numerns; to theI accompanying drawings forming n partof this application, in which:-

Fig. l, is a fmgmentary sevtional eleva.- 46 tion of a wheel embodying my invention.

Fig. 2, is a. diametrical sectional 'flow thereof illustrating the construction pai-tive larly depted for use as n front wheel or me (hat does not receive its power from n motor.

Fig. 3, is a fragmentaijv Sectional vlvvnlion illustrating al Construction partir-Marly adapted for use as a rear wheel or :me in which power is tmnsmitted thereto from a motr,

to e wheel havin a rimcapable of diametri-A 4, is 'asection at the line 4-4 of 55 Iig 5, is a, detail face view of afoonnect ing member showing a different manner of 1fiisteni`xi,4:,rt.he s'urne to the axle which is illustrated in setion. l

Fig. 6, is sectional side elevation of one form of air container.

7, is-n similar view of another form of container. i 8, is a -sniilar View of `another formation. Y

Fi'g. 9, is a similar viewfof a. further modilioation.

Fig. 10, is a.sim.ilar viewofel further modified form of nir container. f

Fig. v11, is also ilv similar view of a differ- Fig 12, likevise isd similar view of e still ill'eientff/rm Vof the-devioe.

Fig. 13, is a vertical sectional view of :in-`

other VJformation 'o f. nir container.

In carrying out'my invention as here embodied, -2 representsmn axle surrounded by 'a tube 3 with suitable anti-friction devioes interposed between them said devices being 80 here shown as roller bearings, but it will be obvious that equivalents may be utilized, such `as bell bearings. Surrounding thetube is a. heiirel 5 open at both ends end hai-'ing exterior threads 6 at said ends while intermediatethe ends of. said burrelare formed a numberp'f holes 7 whereby threaded oonneetion for the. sockets 8 muy be had with the barrel 5.

On the ends of the tube 3 are threadedtho flanges 9 )v hich engage the, ends of the berrel thus maintaining it against endwise movement independent of the` tube while permitting said barrel to move about within the space between the flanges. i

threaded n,

collar 10 and 11 each of which has a circuler 9B 0n each end of the barrel 5 is groove 12 for registration with the flanges 9,

*the said grooves being of e greater diameter than the flanges to permit of considerable diametricel movement of one part rele-tive to the other and oneofwthese collars` as 10, is preferably provided with a. rim I3 whereby :L cap 14 may have threaded connection therewith to keep ont dirt or other foreign' matter from the operatirn;f4 parts. while the other end of (he huh is vered by :i suitable disc 14' having three/ded connection with the axle 2 or a portion of the brake housing as in use at the present time.

In each of the sockets 8 is threaded a cylA inder 15 having a flange 16 at its outer end adapted to be engaged by a union nut 17V which in turn has threaded connection with a lug 18 projecting from the inner surface of the wheel rim 19.

Within the cylinder iS slidably mounted a cup shaped piston 20 having a rod 2 1 integral therewith which passes through the socket 8 and has a reduced stem 22 for threaded connection with a thrust block 23 having an arcuate bearin surface as shown in Fig. 1 for contact wit i the exterior surface of the tube 3 but is not attached to said tube in any manner whatever.

In order to provide for the rciiioi'al of the cylinders 15 a shim 50 of a thickness substantially equal to the depth of the threaded connection 'of said cylinder with the socket is inter'posed between tlie outer end of the cylinderand the lug 18 thereby permitting the cylinder to be disengaged from its socket after the union mit has been backed off and the shim removed.

The joints between the pistouv cylinder may he packdlby 'the use of oil.' tiillow or other suitablgireases or liquids to prevent the leakage of'air'diiring compression or if found desirable th'e piston is held in place by a'ring 25 iri'isaid groove. as slioiin in Fig. 6, and in 'some cases it may be found desirable toiise piston rings 26 set iu the exterior of the iston fas shown in Fig. 7.

In Fig. 8, have sh'wn :mot-lier construction of air container 4wherein ii sccondary or supplementariv cylinder 2T is uti lized and this Supplementary cylindcr is attached to the outer closed end of the umili cylinder l5 by nieiins of suitaililifastening devices 51 Such ns screws or tlicir cquivii.- lent with its walls concentric with the walls of the cylinder 15 but spaced there-troni so 'hat one end of the supplementary cylinder closed and the open end thereof tits into the cup shaped piston. In Fig. 10` l have shown the open end of the supplementary piston as having :in internal bevel Q8 and its closed end is provided with an external flange 52 which snugly tits and is forced into the here of the cylinder 15.

Fig. 9 shows ii piston having an intcrn:ill beveled outer or open end 29.

ln Fig. 11 the piston` is packed :it its inner end by placing a compressihle washer 3() over its rod und forcing.r it against the outer face ofthc inner enclosed end of said piston hy nicfins of a. washer 31 having threaded connection with *he piston rod. it heini! unileiatood that the coiiipi'essiblo washer 3H snugly tits Within thc cylinder l5,

Fig. lmillustratcs the usc of :in nir bag 32 which is housed Within die cylinder and which may hc filled with :iir hy any Suitable compression device or pump' through the medium of a suitable valved nipple 33 construt-ted similar to any ordinary or well known tire valve which projects through a hole 34 in one of the walls of the cylinder.

In Fig. 13, a liner is fitted withinl the cylinder 15 with one end resting against the inner end of said cylinder while the other end is engaged by the socket 8 so that said liner will hc retiined in place. The piston 2() has its major portion reduced in circumference so as to leave a fiange 54 at its closed end thus producing a shoulder 55 against which rests one end of s, jacket 56 on the reduced portion of the piston. By this arrangement the walls of the cylinder and piston will not be worn by the operationect' thc. piston but any wear due to said operations will he upon the jacket and liner, either or both of which may be readily replaced b i new ones when worn to such an extent that leak-.ige of air mirht occur between them.

fn Figs. 3 and 4. I have shown n construction particularly adapted for use with :i rear wheel 0r one which is driven by a motor and in such a wheel a collar Ii is substituted for the collar 1l and this collar 35 has :i second circular groove ti in which are located portions of the toggle levers 3T or equivalent tiexible connecting nicnns. such us chain links nud the. like and thc outer ends of lhcsc levers are fastened within the collar It by iiicnns of lodginpr or :inclini-intr pins 558 or their equivalent while the inner ends of said levers are pii'oted by means of lodging,r or anchoring pins 3S) hetwecn the two cooperatings discs 4U und 41 fastened together hy Suitable 4taatcninpr devices. 42 und these discs :ire hcld in pliicc upon the axle 43% by means of :i pin 44 passing: through said axle with its ends projcctinplr beyond [lic circnnitercnce of said nxleand seated in notches 45 in the inner faces of the discs.

It found desirable the discs may be splined to the shaft by suiiahlc lori-ways and a key 4G. :is shown in li'ig. 'l`hc use of the tlexiblc conncctin; r clcnieuls siii-h as repre sented b v the nunicrnl IKT will cnnsc the wheel to lic revolved with the Shaft 4d and during tlzi rci'oli'ing oi `:iid wheel will per init thc :ivlc to more dininctricallv or radi:ill nl' thc wliccl rini iis` will he obvious.

ln prin-lice :is :i wheel constructed in this mzinnci' passes wr-r a rond hed the weight upon thc. huh of the whccl will cause the pistons lli-low the huh to more outward, rela tive to the. whe/el :is n. whole. so as to compress thc nir in the cylinder and thus produce thc 4saiiic cushioningr etlect as that of a pncnnnttic tire [turing this action the thrust bioclis 32 of the horizontal or si1bstantially horizontal spr-ics will slip over the curved snrfa of thc tube 3 to vcompensate for` thc dilercnces in position of the hub to the points of connection of the spokes with the wheel rim Of course I do not wish to be limited t0 the exact details of construction as herein shown as these may be varied within the limits of the appended claims without dcparting from thc s Jirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention. what I claim as new and useful is:-

1. A resilient wheel comprising a tube adapted to revolve about an axle, a barrel having holes therein surrounding said tube,

flanges having threaded connection with the ends of said tube and bearing against the barrel. collars having threaded connection with the ends of the barrel and provided with grooves for registration with the aforementioned flanges, sockets mounted in the holes of the barrel between the collars. a wheel rim, cylinders detareliably connected with said rim having threaded engagement with the sockets, pistons slidably mounted in said cylinders and provided with'piston rods passing through the sockets, thrust blocks having threaded connection with the inner ends of the piston rods and loosely bearing upon-the tube, and means excluding dirt or other foreign matter from the eelh lars and their component parts.`

2. A resilient.\vl\eel comprising a tube adapted to revolve about an axle, a barrel having holes therein surrounding said tube, flanges having threaded connection with the ends of said tube and bearing against the barrel, collars having threaded connection with the ends of the barrel `and provided with grooves for registration wit-h the aforementioned flanges, sockets mounted in the holes of`the barrel between the collars, a wheel rim, cylinders detachably connected with said rim having threaded engagement with the sockets, pistons slidably mounted in said cylinders and provided with piston rods passing through the sockets, thrust blocks having threaded connection with the inner ends of the piston rods and loosely bea ring upon the tube, means excluding dirt or other foreign matter from the collars and their component parts,a pair of coacting discs fixed to the axle and flexible means having connection with said discs and one of the collars whereby motion may be transmit-ted from the axle to the wheel.4

$5. resilient wheel comprising a tube adapted to revolve about an axle, a barrel having holes therein surrounding said tube,

flanges having threaded connection with the ends of'A said tube and bearing against the barrel. collars having threaded connection with the ends of the barrel and provided with grooves for registration with the aforementioned tlanges, sockets mounted in the holes of t-he barrel and located between the collars, a wheel rim having lugs projecting from the inner surface thereof, cylinders having threaded connection with the aforementioned sockets and arranged in endwise alignment with the lugs on the rim, shims of a thickness substantially equal to the depth ofthe threaded connection of the cylinders with their sockets interposed between the outer ends of Said cylinders and the lugs on,the rim` union nutsl on the cylinders for threaded connection with the lugs on the rim, pistons slidably mounted in said cylinders and provided with piston rods which pass through the sockets, and thrust'blocks having threaded connection with the inner ends of the piston rods and loosely bearing upon the tube. B0

4. A. resilient wheel comprising a tube adapted to revolve about an axle, a barrel having holes the-rein surrounding said tube, fianges having threaded connection with the ends of said tube and bearing against the barrel, collars having threaded connection with the ends of the barrel and provided with grooves for registration with the aforementioned fianges, sockets mounted in the holes of the barrel and located between the collars, a wheel rim having lugs` projecting from the inner surface thereof, cylinders having .threaded connection with the aforementioned sockets and arranged in endwise alignment with the lugs on the rim` shims 96 of a thickness substantially. equal to the depth of the threaded connection of the cyl inders with their sockets interposed between the outer ends of sa-id cylinders and the lugs on the rim, union nuts on the cylindersl for' 100 threaded connection with thc lugs on the rim. pistonsslidably mounted in said c vlinv ders and provided with piston rods which pass through the sockets, thrust blocks having threaded connection with the inner ends of the piston rods and loosely bearing upon the tube, liners with the eylndcis and jaclo ets surrounding the pistons.

[n testimony whereof, l have hereunto afh'xed my signature.

THOMAS MURI N ELLI. 

